Ted Kennedy

Ted Kennedy
Born	Edward Moore Kennedy February 22, 1932
Birthplace	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	August 25, 2009 Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	United States Senator from Massachusetts (1962–2009), champion of universal health care, landmark legislation including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
Education	University of Virginia (LL.B.)
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009)

Edward Moore Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009), known widely as Ted Kennedy, was an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from Massachusetts for nearly forty-seven years, from 1962 until his death in 2009. A member of the Democratic Party and the youngest brother of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, he was born into one of the most prominent political families in American history and went on to forge a consequential legislative career that shaped the nation's policies on health care, civil rights, immigration, education, and disability rights. Kennedy and his staff wrote more than 300 bills that were enacted into law over the course of his Senate tenure, earning him the sobriquet "The Lion of the Senate." He was the second-most-senior member of the Senate at the time of his death and ranks fifth in United States history for length of continuous Senate service. His career was marked by both extraordinary legislative achievement and personal controversy, most notably the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident in which his automobile passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, died — an event that effectively ended his presidential ambitions. Kennedy championed an interventionist government emphasizing economic and social justice and, by his later years, had come to be viewed as a major figure and spokesman for American progressivism. He died of a brain tumor at the age of 77 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Early Life

Edward Moore Kennedy was born on February 22, 1932, in Boston, Massachusetts, the youngest of nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. The Kennedy family was among the most politically connected in the United States; his father served as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, while his maternal grandfather, John F. "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, had been mayor of Boston. Ted grew up in a household defined by ambition, Catholic faith, and public service. His older brothers — Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy — would each pursue paths of military service and politics, with Joseph Jr. dying during World War II, John ascending to the presidency, and Robert serving as Attorney General and later as a United States senator.

As the youngest child, Ted Kennedy moved frequently during his childhood, attending numerous schools as the family relocated between homes in Boston, New York, and abroad. He attended a series of preparatory schools before enrolling at Harvard University. The upheaval and frequent changes in his early education were in part a consequence of his father's diplomatic career and the family's wide-ranging social obligations.

Kennedy served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953, enlisting after an incident at Harvard in which he was asked to leave for having another student take a Spanish examination on his behalf. He was assigned to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Paris, France, holding the rank of Private First Class. After completing his military service, Kennedy was readmitted to Harvard.

Kennedy's early life was marked by the broader tragedies and triumphs of the Kennedy family. The death of his eldest brother Joseph in 1944, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, and the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 profoundly shaped his worldview and his sense of obligation to public service. He would later deliver one of the most memorable eulogies in American oratorical history at Robert's funeral in 1968.

Education

Kennedy attended Harvard University, where he was a member of the varsity football team. He initially left Harvard after the cheating incident involving his Spanish exam but was readmitted following his military service and completed his undergraduate degree in 1956. He subsequently pursued legal studies at the University of Virginia School of Law, where he earned his law degree (LL.B.). His legal education provided the foundation for a career that would combine law and politics for nearly half a century.

Career

Entry into Politics

After completing his law degree, Kennedy began his professional career as an assistant district attorney in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. When his brother John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States in 1960, his Senate seat from Massachusetts became vacant. Benjamin A. Smith II was appointed as a temporary placeholder, and in 1962, Ted Kennedy won a special election to fill the seat. At thirty years old, he was the minimum age required by the Constitution to serve in the Senate.

Kennedy was elected to a full six-year term in 1964 and was subsequently re-elected seven more times, serving continuously until his death in 2009. Early in his Senate career, he survived a serious plane crash in 1964 that killed one of his aides and the pilot and left Kennedy with severe back injuries, from which he suffered for the rest of his life.

In 1969, Kennedy was elected Senate Majority Whip, serving under Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield from January 1969 to January 1971. He was the youngest person to hold that position at the time, and his election was seen as a sign of the esteem in which his colleagues held him and the promise of even higher political office.

Chappaquiddick Incident

On the night of July 18, 1969, Kennedy drove his automobile off a narrow bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, near Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. His passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, a 28-year-old former campaign aide to Robert Kennedy, was trapped in the submerged vehicle and drowned. Kennedy left the scene and did not report the accident to authorities until approximately ten hours later.

On July 25, 1969, Kennedy pleaded guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident and received a two-month suspended sentence. He addressed the people of Massachusetts in a nationally televised statement, asking them to decide whether he should continue to serve in the Senate. The public reaction was mixed, but Massachusetts voters continued to support him in subsequent elections.

The Chappaquiddick incident became one of the most scrutinized episodes in modern American political history. It raised enduring questions about Kennedy's judgment, his account of the events, and the legal proceedings that followed. The incident and its aftermath effectively ended Kennedy's prospects of seeking the presidency in 1972 or 1976, and it shadowed his eventual 1980 presidential campaign.

1980 Presidential Campaign

In 1980, Kennedy challenged the incumbent Democratic president, Jimmy Carter, for the party's presidential nomination. His campaign was motivated by policy disagreements with Carter, particularly on health care and economic policy, and by Kennedy's long-standing ambition for the presidency. However, the campaign was beset by difficulties from the outset. In a notable interview with Roger Mudd of CBS, Kennedy struggled to articulate clearly why he wanted to be president, and the Chappaquiddick incident continued to dominate media coverage of his candidacy.

Kennedy lost the primary contest to Carter but delivered one of the most celebrated speeches in American political history at the 1980 Democratic National Convention. His address concluded with the words, "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." The speech became a rallying cry for modern American liberalism and solidified Kennedy's role as one of the party's most significant voices, even in defeat.

Major Legislation

Kennedy's legislative record is among the most extensive of any senator in American history. Over the course of his nearly five decades in the Senate, he and his staff wrote more than 300 bills that were enacted into law. His legislative accomplishments spanned a broad range of policy areas, including civil rights, health care, education, immigration, and labor.

Among the most significant laws Kennedy played a major role in passing were:

• Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 — This landmark legislation, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, eliminated the national-origins quota system that had governed American immigration policy since the 1920s. Kennedy served as the floor manager for the bill in the Senate, and it fundamentally transformed the composition of immigration to the United States.

• National Cancer Act of 1971 — Kennedy was a leading advocate for increased federal funding for cancer research, and this legislation dramatically expanded the resources and authority of the National Cancer Institute.

• COBRA Health Insurance Provision — The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act included a provision championed by Kennedy that allowed workers who lost their jobs to continue their employer-sponsored health insurance coverage for a limited period.

• Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 — Kennedy was a vocal critic of the apartheid regime in South Africa and played a key role in the passage of sanctions legislation, which was enacted over the veto of President Ronald Reagan.

• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 — Kennedy was one of the principal sponsors of this civil rights law, which prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, and other areas.

• Ryan White AIDS Care Act — Named for Ryan White, a teenager who became a national symbol of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, this legislation provided federal funding for the care and treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS.

• Civil Rights Act of 1991 — This law strengthened federal civil rights protections and provided for damages in cases of intentional employment discrimination.

• Mental Health Parity Act — Kennedy championed legislation requiring health insurers to provide equal coverage for mental health conditions and physical ailments.

• State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) — Kennedy worked with Republicans, including Senator Orrin Hatch, to create this program providing health insurance for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance.

• No Child Left Behind Act — In a notable bipartisan collaboration with President George W. Bush, Kennedy co-authored this education reform law aimed at improving accountability in public schools.

• Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act — Signed into law shortly before his death, this legislation expanded national service programs, including AmeriCorps.

During the 2000s, Kennedy also led several efforts at comprehensive immigration reform, though these ultimately did not result in enacted legislation.

Committee Leadership

Kennedy served in several senior positions within the Senate. He chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1979 to 1981, during which time he oversaw the confirmation process for federal judges and played a significant role in debates over criminal justice and civil rights policy.

He later served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (formerly the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee) during multiple periods: from 1987 to 1995, briefly in 2001, and again from 2007 until his death. In this role, he shaped legislation on health care, education, and labor policy and was a central figure in Senate deliberations on these issues.

Work Across the Aisle

Despite his reputation as one of the Senate's most liberal members, Kennedy was also recognized for his ability and willingness to work with Republican colleagues to achieve legislative compromises. His collaborations with senators such as Orrin Hatch, John McCain, and Judd Gregg, and with Republican presidents, were instrumental in enacting several major laws. The No Child Left Behind Act, co-authored with the Bush administration, and the S-CHIP program, developed in partnership with Hatch, were among the most prominent examples of Kennedy's bipartisan approach.

Universal Health Care

Throughout his Senate career, Kennedy made the enactment of universal health care a central legislative priority, calling it the "cause of my life." He introduced and supported numerous proposals to expand health insurance coverage and reduce the cost of medical care. While he did not live to see the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, his decades of advocacy and legislative groundwork were widely credited with helping to build the political and policy foundation for that law. His endorsement of Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential primary was seen in part as an effort to advance the cause of health care reform.

Personal Life

Ted Kennedy married Joan Bennett in 1958. The couple had three children: Kara, Edward Jr., and Patrick. The marriage was marked by public and private difficulties, and the couple divorced in 1982.

In 1992, Kennedy married Victoria Reggie Kennedy, a Washington attorney. The marriage was described as a stabilizing influence on Kennedy's personal and political life, and Victoria Kennedy became a close adviser and companion for the remainder of his life.

Kennedy's son Patrick J. Kennedy later served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Rhode Island, continuing the family's tradition of public service. His son Edward M. Kennedy Jr. became an attorney and disability rights advocate.

Kennedy's personal life was frequently the subject of media scrutiny. Beyond Chappaquiddick, tabloid coverage of his private conduct during the 1980s and early 1990s drew criticism, though Kennedy's legislative accomplishments and personal relationships later in life helped to reshape his public image.

Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor (glioblastoma) in May 2008. Despite his illness, he made a dramatic appearance at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver to endorse Barack Obama and rally the party. He continued to work on legislation, including health care reform, during his treatment.

Kennedy died on August 25, 2009, at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. He was 77 years old. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, near the graves of his brothers John and Robert.

Recognition

Kennedy's long tenure and legislative influence earned him the nickname "The Lion of the Senate," a title that reflected both his seniority and his impact on American law and policy.

Kennedy was known for his oratorical skills. His 1968 eulogy for his brother Robert, delivered at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, and his 1980 Democratic National Convention speech remain among the most frequently cited addresses in modern American political rhetoric.

In 2009, President Barack Obama awarded Kennedy the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in recognition of his decades of public service. Kennedy was too ill to attend the ceremony, and the award was accepted on his behalf.

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, located adjacent to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, was established to educate the public about the role of the Senate in American government. The institute opened in 2015.

Kennedy ranked fifth in United States history for length of continuous service as a senator at the time of his death, a testament to both his electoral durability and his deep connection with the voters of Massachusetts.

Legacy

Ted Kennedy's legacy in American politics is defined primarily by the breadth and depth of his legislative accomplishments. Over nearly five decades, he was involved in shaping laws that affected the lives of millions of Americans, from civil rights protections to health care programs to education reform. His more than 300 enacted bills represent one of the most productive legislative careers in the history of the United States Senate.

Kennedy's advocacy for universal health care, which he pursued from the early 1970s until his death, had a lasting impact on the trajectory of American health policy. Although he did not live to see the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, the law was in many respects the culmination of efforts he had championed for decades, and it was widely described as a tribute to his life's work.

His role in the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 fundamentally altered the demographic composition of immigration to the United States and remains one of the most consequential pieces of legislation of the twentieth century. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which Kennedy helped to sponsor and shepherd through the Senate, established a framework for disability rights that has served as a model both domestically and internationally.

Kennedy's career also demonstrated the complexities of political life in America. The Chappaquiddick incident remained a source of controversy throughout his career and prevented him from achieving the presidency, which many had expected him to seek earlier in his political life. His ability to continue serving effectively in the Senate despite personal setbacks and family tragedies — including the assassinations of two brothers and the loss of a nephew, John F. Kennedy Jr., in a 1999 plane crash — was a defining feature of his public life.

By the time of his death, Kennedy was regarded as one of the most consequential legislators of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. His influence extended across party lines and across generations of political leaders, many of whom cited his mentorship, his legislative skill, and his commitment to social justice as formative influences on their own careers.